Author: Ulrich von Schwerin

Over the course of over 800 pages, the British historian and broadcaster Bettany Hughes paints a dazzling picture of the history of Istanbul. Using vibrant and vivid language, she describes wars and battles, eunuchs and harems, but says little about everyday life in Istanbul or how the city grew and evolved. Ulrich von Schwerin read the bookMore

Since the attempted coup in Turkey, President Erdogan has been pressing foreign nations to hand over schools run by the Gulen movement. Although many countries have entrusted control of the schools to the Turkish Maarif Foundation, the controversial movement continues to enjoy protection. By Ulrich von SchwerinMore

With his election victory, Recep Tayyip Erdogan has secured power for years to come. Despite an energetic campaign, the opposition did not manage to break the Turkish patriarch’s power or even increase its share of the vote. Society seems to have become entrenched in its various camps and there is a risk that tensions will escalate further. Ulrich von Schwerin reports from IstanbulMore

With elections imminent, the Turkish government and the Kurdish opposition are emphasising their peaceful intentions, yet the Kurdish conflict remains entrenched. A visit to Diyarbakir and Cizre on the Syrian border reveals the deep-seated antagonism and just how far both sides are from a reconciliation. By Ulrich von SchwerinMore

As the UKʹs Windrush scandal of a few weeks ago demonstrated, European countries still have much to learn when it comes to integrating and treating migrants with respect. In "Der ewige Gast" (The Eternal Guest), Can Merey draws on his father's experience to explain why many Turkish immigrants have never really felt at home in Germany. By Ulrich von SchwerinMore

By pulling out of the nuclear deal with Iran, U.S. President Donald Trump has played into the hands of Tehranʹs hardliners. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is now under pressure to salvage the agreement with its European signatories and prevent an escalation in the region. Commentary by Ulrich von SchwerinMore

Since the attempted coup in Turkey in July 2016, the accusation that the Gulen movement was behind the failed putsch has met with scepticism in the West. A new book shows, however, that the movement was never just about dialogue and education, but has instead always sought to grasp the reins of state. By Ulrich SchwerinMore

Die Welt correspondent Deniz Yucel has finally been freed after a year in custody, but this has done nothing to change the situation within the Turkish media and judiciary. Commentary by Ulrich von SchwerinMore

Although the presence of an armed group on Turkey′s border – especially one allied to the PKK – was inevitably going to be perceived as a threat, Ankara′s Afrin offensive has been given short shrift in Germany. Commentary by Ulrich von SchwerinMore

Forty years after the start of the Islamic Revolution, Iran is once again convulsed with protests. Many of the economic problems facing the country today resemble those in the 1970s, and the regime appears to be scarcely less repressive and ossified than it was back then. Nevertheless, the current protests are unlikely to be the beginning of a new revolution, says Ulrich von SchwerinMore

The crushing of the Islamic Gulen movement has left a gaping void in Turkey that other organisations are now rushing to fill, with people jostling for the tens of thousands of now-vacant jobs. Conservative foundations and religious orders stand to benefit most from the sell-off. By Ulrich von SchwerinMore

For years, people in Turkey have been passing around an unconventional love story set in 1920s Berlin. Ulrich von Schwerin asks what it says about Turkish society when a novel by a long-ostracised author, written over 70 years ago, now has cult statusMore

In the Islamic Republic of Iran, which once vowed to eliminate hereditary rule, large family dynasties are increasingly dominating the political landscape. Critical voices assert that the Shah has been replaced by a clerical "king" as ruler of the country, complete with his own court and state nobility. However, some of the hereditary princes are demonstrating remarkable independence. By Ulrich von SchwerinMore

The referendum campaign has polarised Turkey in a way rarely seen, but instead of seeking balance and reconciliation, Erdogan immediately announced further referenda on the death penalty and EU accession talks. A risky tactic, argues Ulrich von SchwerinMore

Anything is better than waiting. Even deportation back to Turkey is no longer such a frightening prospect for refugees stranded on Lesbos. But now, Ankara says it is no longer willing to take back rejected asylum seekers. Ulrich von Schwerin reports from LesbosMore

Repeated demands for Germany to take a firm line with Erdogan and to end the refugee deal with Turkey have become a favourite mantra of many among the German opposition parties. A hardening of the rhetoric alone, however, is hardly likely to induce Erdogan to change his tack. By Ulrich von SchwerinMore